New Delhi: Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh on Thursday hailed the Supreme Court order in Lafarge uranium mining case, saying it was a ‘landmark’ judgement, that would set the stage for further reforms in environmental governance.
Ramesh also welcomed the apex court’s direction to set up a national regulator to overlook matters related to environmental clearances.
The Supreme Court had on Wednesday permitted French cement giant Lafarge to resume limestone mining at Shella in Khasi Hills in Meghalaya.
An interim stay had been imposed by the court restraining the mining activities in the state.
Ramesh said the Supreme Court had given a ‘new and enhanced’ status to the National Forest Policy prepared under the ‘personal leadership’ of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and said he would implement the direction ‘in letter and spirit’.
“The MoE&F is of the view that judiciary has played a pivotal role in environmental and forest management. The MoE&F will continue to work closely with the judiciary in the pursuit of sustainable development,” Ramesh added. (UNI)